The Nationals announced that they have recalled first baseman Abimelec Ortiz from Triple-A Rochester. Ortiz will be making his major league debut when he gets into a game. Left-hander Matt Krook was designated for assignment to make space on the active roster. With Krook’s designation, the team has an open spot on their 40-man roster.

Ortiz was acquired along with four other prospects when the Nationals dealt MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers in January. MLB.com counts Ortiz as one of Milwaukee’s Top 30 prospects, and he’s earned that reputation with his production at Triple-A this year. In 304 plate appearances there, he’s hit 16 home runs while striking out less than 20% of the time and walking at an above-average 10.2% clip. All told, Ortiz’s line of .235/.332/.481 amounts to a 107 wRC+ despite a .243 average on balls in play, so he’s proven himself well against Triple-A pitching.

Ortiz has played 46 games at first base this year and another 26 as a DH. He’s also played 441 innings in right field dating back to 2024. Ortiz is blocked at first base and DH by two of the team’s best hitters in Luis García Jr. and James Wood. Right field is the clearer path to playing time at the moment. The right-handed hitting Dylan Crews has just a 73 wRC+ in 185 plate appearances this year, with nearly all of his struggles coming against same-handed pitching.

Crews has a 35 wRC+ in 126 PA against right-handers compared to a 156 wRC+ in 59 PA against southpaws. Ortiz, who hits left-handed, could potentially draw starts against righties in a platoon with Crews. The long-term arrangement will need to be sorted out after the All-Star break. With Ortiz’s promotion, the Nationals have 14 position players and 12 pitchers on the active roster. They’ll need to option a position player in order to carry eight relievers in their bullpen. If they want to give Ortiz an extended look, Crews can be optioned down to Triple-A.

Krook was claimed off waivers from the Athletics on July 4th. He appeared in three games out of the Nationals’ bullpen, allowing two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. Adding in his previous work with the Athletics, Krook has a 12.79 ERA in just 6 1/3 big league innings this year. Since debuting in 2023, he’s thrown just 14 2/3 big league innings with poor results. He’s been serviceable at Triple-A this year, posting a 3.72 ERA with an above-average 30.9% strikeout rate in 29 innings for the Athletics’ top affiliate.

Krook has been designated and outrighted in the past, so he has the right to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency if he clears waivers. It’s also possible that he’ll get claimed by a club looking for no-cost bullpen depth, as was the case when the Nationals took him from the Athletics.

Photo courtesy of Jim Rassol, Imagn Images